About the Road Trip Calculator
A road trip is one of the most flexible ways to travel, but planning one raises a string of questions. How long will the drive really take? How many nights will we need to stop on the way? What will the fuel cost, and what about hotels, meals, tolls and parking? Adding it all up in advance is the difference between a relaxed trip and one that runs out of money, or daylight, halfway.
This road trip calculator puts the whole plan in one place. Enter the distance, your car's fuel economy and the fuel price, your average speed and how many hours a day you want to drive, the number of travellers, and your budget for lodging, food and other costs. It gives the total cost of the trip, the driving time, the days and nights on the road, a full breakdown, and the cost per person. It works in US, UK or metric units, and can include the return journey.
How to Use the Road Trip Calculator
Choose the units: US, UK or metric.
Enter the distance one way, and tick return journey to include the drive home.
Enter the fuel economy and the fuel price.
Enter your average speed including stops, and the hours of driving per day you are comfortable with.
Enter the number of travellers, the cost of lodging per night for the group, food per person per day, and any tolls, parking and other costs.
How the Trip Is Worked Out
driving time = distance ÷ average speed
days = driving time ÷ hours per day, rounded up
nights = days − 1
fuel cost = distance ÷ mpg × price (or × L/100 km ÷ 100 × price)
lodging = nights × cost per night
food = days × travellers × food per person per day
total = fuel + lodging + food + otherStep-by-Step Example
1,200 miles one way, 28 mpg, fuel at 3.60 a gallon, 60 mph average, 8 hours a day, three travellers, 120 a night, 40 per person per day for food, 30 of tolls.
Driving time: 1,200 ÷ 60 = 20 hours
Days: 20 ÷ 8 = 2.5 → 3 days, 2 nights
Fuel: 1,200 ÷ 28 = 42.9 gal × 3.60 = 154.29
Lodging: 2 × 120 = 240.00
Food: 3 days × 3 × 40 = 360.00
Total: 154.29 + 240 + 360 + 30 = 784.29
Per person: 784.29 ÷ 3 = 261.43Choosing a Realistic Average Speed
The most common planning mistake is using the speed limit as the average speed. A road trip includes fuel stops, meals, toilet breaks, traffic, road works and towns along the way. On long highway drives, an average of about 55 to 60 mph, or 90 to 100 km/h, including stops is realistic. On rural roads, through mountains or around cities it may be 40 mph or less. Mapping apps give a driving time without stops, so add 15 to 25 percent to their estimate.
How Much to Drive Each Day
Driving for many hours is tiring, and tiredness causes a large share of serious motorway accidents. Road safety organisations recommend a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours. Most people find 6 to 8 hours of driving a day comfortable on a long trip, leaving time to enjoy the places along the way. With two or more drivers sharing, 10 hours a day is possible, but it makes for long, tiring days. Avoid driving through the night or in the early afternoon when drowsiness peaks.
Budgeting Lodging and Food
Lodging is entered per night for the whole group, which suits a shared hotel room or holiday rental. If you need several rooms, add them together. Food is entered per person per day. Budget motels and packed lunches keep costs low; hotels and restaurants raise them quickly. For the return journey, the calculator counts the nights spent on the road in both directions — nights at your destination belong in your holiday budget, not the drive.
Keeping Costs Down
Fill up away from motorways and tourist areas, where fuel is often cheaper, and use a fuel price app to find the best stations. Drive smoothly at moderate speeds, keep the tyres correctly inflated and avoid carrying roof boxes when you do not need them. Book lodging with free breakfast and parking, and pack a cool box with drinks and snacks. Sharing the car with more travellers is the single biggest saving of all, because fuel, tolls and parking cost the same however many people are inside.
Before You Set Off
Check the tyres, including the spare, the oil, coolant and screen wash, and the lights. Plan your overnight stops and book them if it is a busy season. Make sure your breakdown cover, insurance and any toll passes or vignettes for other countries are in place, and download offline maps in case you lose signal.
Travelling With Children or Pets
Children and pets need more frequent stops, often every hour or two, so lower the average speed a little and plan fewer driving hours each day.
Understanding Your Result
Trip cost is the total budget for the drive.
Driving time gives the hours at the wheel, the days and the nights on the road.
Fuel gives the fuel cost, the fuel used and the total distance.
Breakdown separates fuel, lodging, food and other costs.
Per person divides the total between the travellers.
Worth knowing reminds you to take regular breaks.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
Planning a holiday by car.
Moving house across the country.
Comparing driving with flying or taking the train.
Splitting trip costs among friends.
Deciding how many nights to book on the way.
Common Mistakes
Using the speed limit as the average speed.
Planning too many hours of driving a day.
Forgetting the return journey.
Leaving out tolls and parking.
Budgeting food and lodging for fewer people or nights than the trip needs.